My DD who is 3.1 has never been an aggressive child and is more likely to back away from confrontation. She recently moved up to the pre-school at nursery, where she goes 3 days a week and I am a bit concerned about her behaviour. She has a very good friend in the same room and they are apparently inseparable. However she has started fighting with him eg pushes and often snatches. She seems pretty unremorseful about doing things he doesn't like (e.g. yesterday she laughingly told me that she chased him with a paintbrush and also whacked him with her coat, all with a big grin). She also doesn't seem to play with anyone else, in particular a girl she used to play with all the time in the previous room she says "she doesn't like me".
I am sure this is all quite normal at this age, and other than commenting occasionally that she hasn't shared well today or whatever nursery haven't said anything and often say she's had a good day too.
i am just wondering if there's any point trying to talk to her about her increasingly rough behaviour? i wonder if that's why the other little girl"doesn't like her" - (though i suspect it's more because they seem to have some funny idea they only have one friend each). i have discussed with her about thinking about whether she would like it if someone pushed her, but it's a bit in one ear... or should i just leave the discipline lessons to the staff and let her chill out at home.
She's my first (and only) so I am basically just after finding out whether it's common for kids behaviour to change a bit when they start mixing with older kids (she has also started saying poo a lot etc so i know the dynamic has changed!) and if there's anything i can do. i suspect she feels a bit overwhelmed.